European Network for Oxysterol Research (ENOR)

The Moroccan group comprises 2 research teams located i) at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Errachidia, and ii) at the Unit of Biology and Molecular Research Department of Life Sciences, National Center for Energy, Nuclear Sciences, and Techniques (CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco). These two research teams investigate plants that are rich in steroidal alkaloids, phytosterols, and other natural ligands that can mimic hormonal steroids in human, which may be beneficial in addressing various conditions, including chronic inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and cancer.

 

Team 1:

 

Dr. Farid Khallouki; f.khallouki@fste.umi.ac.ma

 

We are focused on the role of lipids in relation to cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Our team investigates the functions of various plant secondary metabolites, such as phytosterols and lipophilic vitamins, pregnan steroid systems that can mimic hormonal steroids in metabolic and inflammatory processes.

 

References:

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Khallouki F et al. et al. Chemical and Biochemical Features of Spinasterol and Schottenol Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024; 1440:45-55. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-43883-7_3 - Khallouki et al. An Update on Tamoxifen and the Chemo-Preventive Potential of Vitamin E in Breast Cancer Management. J Pers Med. 2023; 13(5): 754. doi: 10.3390/jpm13050754 -

 

Khallouki et al. In vitro and in vivo oxidation and cleavage products of tocols: From chemical tuners to “VitaminEome” therapeutics. Food Bioscience 2022, 49, Article 101839. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FBIO.2022.101839-

 

Khallouki et al. Bryonolic Acid Blocks Cancer Cell Clonogenicity and Invasiveness through the Inhibition of Fatty Acid: Cholesteryl Ester Formation. Biomedicines 2018; 6(1): 21. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines6010021.

 

Team 2 :

 

Dr Laila Benbacer; lbenbacer@yahoo.com (with Boutaina Addoum and Wafa Zennouhi)

 

The Laboratory of Pharmacology at CNESTEN (Rabat, Morocco) specializes in Moroccan plants from the local pharmacopeia, focusing on the identification of natural molecules with anticancer and antioxidant properties. Dr. Laila Benbacer studies plants rich in alkaloids, particularly those containing steroidal alkaloids known for their pharmacological potential. She explores phytotherapy alternatives and utilizes screening techniques to predict interactions with therapeutic targets. Alongside Dr. Addoum and Ms. Wafa Zennouhi, Dr. Benbacer try to employ green chemistry to help develop novel steroidal alkaloids and examine their structure-activity relationships in cancer using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methods.

 

References: 

 

Boutaina Addoum, Bouchra El Khalfi, Souraya Sakoui et al. Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies of some Pyrano[2,3-c] Pyrazole as an Inhibitor of SARS Coronavirus 3CL Protease. Letters in Applied NanoBioScience 2022.

 

Kaoutar Bouothmany, Fatima ez-zahra Amrati, Mohamed Chebaibi et al. Hepatoprotective Effects of a Chemically Characterized Extract from Cistus ladanifer: In Vivo and in Silico Investigations.

Natural Product Communications 2024, Volume 19(2) : 1–14 

 

Saad Fettach, Fatima Zahra Thari, Khalid Karrouchi et al. Assessment of anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives in HFD-STZ diabetic animal model. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2024, 391.